Florida State will send seven to senior bowls

Florida State sends group of seniors to three different all-star games ahead of NFL Draft

January 12, 2012|By Coley Harvey, Orlando Sentinel

TALLAHASSEE — Before the end of the month, seven Florida State seniors will have a chance to appear in one final collegiate game ahead of April's NFL Draft.

The septuplet will be playing in any of three senior all-star game showcases occuring in the Southeast. Punter Shawn Powell will represent the Seminoles in the East-West Shrine Game in St. Petersburg on Jan. 21. That same day, receiver Bert Reed, safety Terrance Parks, running back Jermaine Thomas and tight end Ja'Baris Little will play in the inaugural "Battle for Florida" all-star game in Boca Raton.

The following weekend, linebacker Nigel Bradham and Zebrie Sanders head to Mobile, Ala. to play in the Senior Bowl.

In the "Battle for Florida," former FSU coach Bobby Bowden will serve as the "North" team's honorary coach, while former legendary Miami and Florida Atlantic coach Howard Schnellenberger will lead the "South" team. Each of the Seminoles seniors appearing in that game will play for Bowden's squad.

Last month, Powell was named the 10th consensus All-America selection in school history after he was named to the American Football Coaches Association, Walter Camp Foundation, ESPN.com and Rivals.com All-America first teams.

Quick hits

•NFLDraftScout.com lists Powell as the third-best punter available in this year's draft. This season, Powell led the nation in punting average at 47.0 yards per punt.

•The same draft projection site lists Bradham as the 13th-best outside linebacker on the draft board. Sanders, according to the site, is the third-rated offensive tackle. A trio of underclassmen are currently listed ahead of him. Most pundits believe he could be a first-round pickup, going as high as 22nd overall.